Mosquito nets to fish
People in the northern regions are using mosquito nets issued free of charge by the health ministry to combat malaria, to catch fish in the seasonal efundja.
Many of the mosquito nets distributed free to fight malaria in the northern regions where there is an outbreak of the deadly disease, are being used to fish in the floodwaters.
The efundja coincides with the increase in mosquitoes, but instead of being used to protect people from mosquitoes at night, people are using them to fish.
The health ministry rolled-out the anti-malaria campaign last month, which included the distribution of free treated mosquito nets and the spraying of Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) from house to house to control the prevalence of these insects. In parliament recently, health minister Bernard Haufiku announced that 7 003 cases of malaria were reported in January and February and 86 malaria-related deaths during the 2016/17 rainy season.
Citizens in the malaria-prone regions of Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, the two Kavango and Zambezi regions are receiving free mosquito nets and these are the same regions affected by efundja.
The two Kavango regions, reported the highest number of malaria cases - 4 617 - followed by Ohangwena Region with 1 184 cases, Zambezi Region with 582 cases, while Omusati had 237, Oshikoto 196, Otjozondjupa 97 and Oshana 69.
In an interview with the Malaria Elimination 8 (E8) Ambassador and former health minister, Dr Richard Kamwi last month, he said even if the ministry of health distributes mos quito nets to every Namibian, if they are not using them to protect themselves against mosquitoes, then the country and E8 will not succeed in their plan to contain malaria by 2020.
Kamwi said that malaria is still the leading killer in Africa mainly in children, pregnant women, elders and the frail and infirm. He urged community members to make sure that they remain protected against mosquito bites, especially at night.
He also urged the health ministry to follow up if people are indeed using mosquito nets and whether they are using them properly. “If many cases of malaria are reported in an area where the annual malaria spraying campaign was conducted and free mosquito nets were distributed then something is wrong. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended 90 to 100% indoor spraying and mosquito nets distribution coverage for a successful fight against malaria,” said Kamwi.
The ministry of health is using N$2 million in the recent malaria outbreak, while other multinational organisations and local organisations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) Angelican Aids Programme and Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) are trying to assist the government to provide free nets.
The health ministry, on questions of the number of nets distributed thus far, as well as the consequences when one found using the mosquito nets for fishing, did not respond to Namibian Sun.
ILENI NANDJATO
The efundja coincides with the increase in mosquitoes, but instead of being used to protect people from mosquitoes at night, people are using them to fish.
The health ministry rolled-out the anti-malaria campaign last month, which included the distribution of free treated mosquito nets and the spraying of Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) from house to house to control the prevalence of these insects. In parliament recently, health minister Bernard Haufiku announced that 7 003 cases of malaria were reported in January and February and 86 malaria-related deaths during the 2016/17 rainy season.
Citizens in the malaria-prone regions of Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Omusati, the two Kavango and Zambezi regions are receiving free mosquito nets and these are the same regions affected by efundja.
The two Kavango regions, reported the highest number of malaria cases - 4 617 - followed by Ohangwena Region with 1 184 cases, Zambezi Region with 582 cases, while Omusati had 237, Oshikoto 196, Otjozondjupa 97 and Oshana 69.
In an interview with the Malaria Elimination 8 (E8) Ambassador and former health minister, Dr Richard Kamwi last month, he said even if the ministry of health distributes mos quito nets to every Namibian, if they are not using them to protect themselves against mosquitoes, then the country and E8 will not succeed in their plan to contain malaria by 2020.
Kamwi said that malaria is still the leading killer in Africa mainly in children, pregnant women, elders and the frail and infirm. He urged community members to make sure that they remain protected against mosquito bites, especially at night.
He also urged the health ministry to follow up if people are indeed using mosquito nets and whether they are using them properly. “If many cases of malaria are reported in an area where the annual malaria spraying campaign was conducted and free mosquito nets were distributed then something is wrong. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended 90 to 100% indoor spraying and mosquito nets distribution coverage for a successful fight against malaria,” said Kamwi.
The ministry of health is using N$2 million in the recent malaria outbreak, while other multinational organisations and local organisations such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) Angelican Aids Programme and Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) are trying to assist the government to provide free nets.
The health ministry, on questions of the number of nets distributed thus far, as well as the consequences when one found using the mosquito nets for fishing, did not respond to Namibian Sun.
ILENI NANDJATO
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